Youth/High School Soccer
A decade of ‘creating culture’ leads to shot at national title for Lower Merion team
A decade into their tenure as a team with one final go around on the horizon at the National Presidents Cup in Tampa, the Lower Merion 007’s are a testament to hard work, perseverance, friendship and joy.
Coached by Charlie Dodds and Matt Kane since 2015, the Lower Merion squad of mostly recent high school graduates is a tapestry of relationships that have gelled over time and a group of players who have found what every young soccer player wants without seeking greener pastures elsewhere.
“That’s where our success is,” Dodds said at a recent training session for the team. “Our main core guys have been together for such a long time.”
Cooper Lechtman is among the group of players who have been on the team from U-9 up. The recent Harriton High School graduate says he can’t imagine playing for anyone else.
“I started playing intramurals in this club since I was five years old, started playing travel when I was seven and a couple years later joined Charlie’s team and I’ve been with him ever since,” said Lechtman, who is attending the University of Georgia in the fall. “I think the biggest thing about our team is this community and the culture; we push each other, push each other to be better.”
Romel Tom calls it a “brotherly vibe” when talking about the team, which he joined a couple years ago.
“I’m really excited about it, because we’re really redeeming ourselves,” Tom said, referencing last year’s heartbreaking loss in the state cup final. “We’ve got a lovely group of players, and these are my brothers.”
The 007’s rolled through the state final and earned a trip to Tampa with a successful run at the Eastern Presidents Cup in Conshohocken last month. The state cup title was a first for Dodds, who has been involved with Lower Merion SC for nearly 30 years and coaches high school soccer at West Chester East.
“This isn’t about me, this isn’t about Matt (Kane),” Dodds said of the chance to compete for the U-19 National Presidents Cup crown. “It’s about the boys.”
For Kane, who has coached his youngest son (of five) on the team, the journey with the 007’s has been challenging at times but rewarding in large part because of what they’ve been able to slowly and steadily build.
“Seeing kids that other teams didn’t want that now are going to go play at the college level, kids that when they were eight, nine, 10, 11 years old, were on C teams,” Kane said. “Seeing kids get developed, and not just cherry picked from other clubs makes us really happy.”
The relationships at the center of the team, from Kane’s relationship with Dodds to the player’s relationships on and off the field, have been the special sauce of the 007’s. Though Charlie and Matt are different in approach and personality – despite sometimes alternating seamlessly between a good cop/bad cop routine – their dedication to the sport and commitment to their players is clear. Dodds coached Matt’s two oldest boys and his youngest.
“My relationship with Charlie’s by far one of the highlights of the whole experience,” Kane said.
Whether it’s telling the group they’re looking soft (Kane) or taking a player to the side and pointing out where things are going awry (Dodds), neither coach hides from confrontation but on the other end of those difficult conversations is the voice of two men who are constantly advocating for their players.
“I don’t say that I’m the head coach and he’s the assistant; we coach together,” Dodds said of Kane. “As much as I’m getting credit for it I have to say Matt should be maybe a little bit higher up there. He’s the one who just puts hours and hours into it.”
While a few of the players like Jude Sacks and Funsia Donzo still have another year of high school left, most of the team has reached the end of the line in their youth soccer careers. For Lechtman it makes the National Presidents Cup opportunity all the more special. One final trip together. One final cup to play for.
“Having a place on this team,” Lechtman said. “It’s been my rock.”
Regardless of how they fare in Tampa, the end is near for the 007’s. Trophy or not, they’ll still come home with more than they packed.
“I love the culture we’ve created,” Kane said. “I’m just sorry it has to end.”
